Iniobong Sunday
No fewer than 16 persons have been reportedly killed following a three-day bloody clashes by rival cults over control of mini bus parks in Akwa Ibom State, investigations by our correspondent have shown on Tuesday.
The Klaans and the Black Axe confraternities are said to have engaged each other in bloody clashes over the control of toll collections in mini bus parks in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Most of the affected areas including the adjoining areas of Idu, in Uruan Local Government Area, where the crises started before spreading to Use Offot, Ekpri Nsukara, and Eniong Offot communities in Uyo Local Government Area, have been deserted, as about 16 persons and properties worth millions of naira, were destroyed in yet-to-be contained violence.
It was learnt trouble started when the two confraternities engaged each other in a fierce fight on Sunday, over alleged encroachment into some parks earmarked for a different group to collect the parking tolls, forcing angry reaction from the opposing group.
Narrating their ordeals, Nora Inwang, a journalist and one Aniefiok Usen, both residents around the Nwaniba area, the main epicentre of the cults fight, lamented that they had to sleep with relations and friends outside the area, following distressed calls from frightful neighbours around the Udo Ekpo Nkpo Street.
“Thank God, I finally arrived my house this morning (Tuesday) after my friends called me Monday evening to sleep elsewhere and not to return for fear of being killed by the rampaging armed hoodlums,” Inwang lamented.
“My wife called me at about 7:50 p.m. on Monday that I should not return home because of ongoing killings around my area in Udo Ekpo Nkpo Street and the adjoining areas of Nwaniba, Ekpri Nsukara, Eniong Offot and Use Offot communities. I had to take refuge at my sister’s place off Abak Road till this morning, Tuesday,” Usen said.
“Throughout these last three days, we’ve been staying indoors from 6:00pm because of the fight and the Police operatives would only mount the guard on major roads, harassing ordinary unarmed civilians without going into the villages to confront the real culprits,” another residents, who identified herself as Emem Duncan, told our correspondent.
Eight persons, checks revealed, where slaughtered in Use Offot, and over 10 others killed in Anua, Ekpri Nsukara and Eniong Offot communities, while several others have been hospitalised with varying degrees of injuries.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MacDon, who confirmed the killings, said only four people were mowed, assuring that “the Commissioner of Police (CP), Olatoye Durosinmi, is miffed at the disruption of public order and safety by two rival cult groups at Anua Offot and Use Offot, both at Nwaniba, in Uyo Local Government Area, leading to the loss of lives.
“The CP condemned in strong terms the wanton destruction of lives and has vowed to bring perpetrators to book, hence he has deployed Tactical resources to restore order and fish out the perpetrators.
“The CP has, therefore, called on residents of the said communities and Uyo, to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation and be assured of their safety because of strategies emplaced. He has sent a clear warning to perpetrators of these dastardly acts to desist forthwith or face the dire consequences of their actions.”
